In a fight that started slowly but ended violently, Joe Riggs beat up Louis Taylor Friday night, rocking Taylor with a huge left hand a minute into the third round, then pouncing on him and raining punches down until Taylor tapped out and the fight was over.
Although it was an impressive finish by Riggs, it was also a fight that showed many of the problems of the Strikeforce Challengers shows: Although Challengers is ostensibly designed to promote MMA up-and-comers, Riggs is actually a seasoned veteran. The fight did nothing to advance Riggs' career, and certainly did nothing for Taylor's.
This bout was fought at a catchweight of 182 pounds, but Riggs called out Strikeforce's welterweight champion, Nick Diaz, after the fight, saying he'd like to move back down to 170 pounds and get another shot at Diaz, whom he beat at UFC 57 in 2006. If Riggs can't get the fight with Diaz, he may move up a few pounds and participate in the Strikeforce middleweight tournament that will allegedly take place later this year.
In any event, Riggs, whose record improved to 33-11, should be back on the Strikeforce main cards, rather than Challengers. Taylor, who fell to 6-2, would be a good fit for future Challengers cards, taking on opponents closer to his own skill and experience level. He wasn't ready for Riggs.
Although it was an impressive finish by Riggs, it was also a fight that showed many of the problems of the Strikeforce Challengers shows: Although Challengers is ostensibly designed to promote MMA up-and-comers, Riggs is actually a seasoned veteran. The fight did nothing to advance Riggs' career, and certainly did nothing for Taylor's.
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This bout was fought at a catchweight of 182 pounds, but Riggs called out Strikeforce's welterweight champion, Nick Diaz, after the fight, saying he'd like to move back down to 170 pounds and get another shot at Diaz, whom he beat at UFC 57 in 2006. If Riggs can't get the fight with Diaz, he may move up a few pounds and participate in the Strikeforce middleweight tournament that will allegedly take place later this year.
In any event, Riggs, whose record improved to 33-11, should be back on the Strikeforce main cards, rather than Challengers. Taylor, who fell to 6-2, would be a good fit for future Challengers cards, taking on opponents closer to his own skill and experience level. He wasn't ready for Riggs.